Morning reconnaissance flight along Baldwin's shores reveals widespread oil landfall in form of tarballs and sheen mixed with emulsified oil

(Press-Register/Mike Kittrell)Workers in protective suits check the beach in Gulf Shores in May after tarballs were found in Baldwin County.

According to the morning flight report covering Baldwin County beaches, Gulf Shores is getting hit the hardest this morning. From the Gulf State Park fishing pier to the end of Beach Road large pancake-like tarballs -- mixed with emulsified oil, streamers and a heavy metallic sheen -- was seen washing up on the beach.

In Orange Beach heavy sheen, mixed with emulsified oil and streamers, was observed from Perdido Pass to the state park. "Just on the southern edge of the Sheen (1 to 2 miles off coast) there are some large 'Pancake' like Tar Balls. Some range in sizes of 2-3 acres," the reports states.

Orange Beach's inland waterways are also affected with tarballs and heavy sheen mixed with streamers spotted in areas on the north side of Ono Island.

The flight over the Fort Morgan peninsula revealed heavy sheen washing ashore along with light emulsified oil and streamers. Tar balls were also spotted about 6 to 7 miles south of the peninsula.